weakness

[week-nis]

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak; lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness.

   Synonyms: fragility
   Antonyms: strength

2. an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person's character; slight fault or defect.

   to show great sympathy for human weaknesses.

   Synonyms: flaw

3. a self-indulgent liking or special fondness, as for a particular thing.

   I've always had a weakness for the opera.

   Synonyms: appetite, hunger, passion, penchant

4. an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist.

   Chocolates were her weakness.

weakness

/ ˈwiːknɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak

2. a deficiency or failing, as in a person's character

3. a self-indulgent fondness or liking

   a weakness for chocolates

Other Word Forms

• nonweakness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of weakness¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English waikenes, weikenes. See weak, -ness

Idioms and Phrases

see have a weakness for.

Synonym Study

See fault.

Example Sentences

“Rivals are all carefully studying where TSMC’s weaknesses lie, and that is where they may find their chance to win,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Recent weakness in the won also gave the BOK another reason to refrain from rate cuts, as such a move could pressure the currency further.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The September jobs report, released last Friday, showed the unemployment rate edged up to 4.4%, a sign of weakness that could prompt the Fed to cut rates in December.

Read more on MarketWatch

Bamboo scaffolds have "intrinsic weaknesses such as variation in mechanical properties, deterioration over time and high combustibility, etc, giving rise to safety concerns", the bureau's spokesperson Terence Lam was quoted as saying.

Read more on BBC

However, weakness in non-tech shipments could linger, as elevated inventories lead to demand headwinds in China and the full impact of U.S. tariffs are expected to play out next year, they add.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deficiency 
• failing 
• flaw 
• fragility www.thesaurus.com
• frailty 
• gap 
• instability 
• lack 
• lapse 
• shortcoming 
• vulnerability